The Woodruff Middle School STEM Club had an unforgettable field trip to Villanova University on February 25, 2026! Our students, along with faculty and advisors, spent the day immersed in exciting demonstrations of engineering and science, hosted in the university’s impressive Drosdick Hall—the state-of-the-art home of the College of Engineering. Opened in 2024 after a major $125 million expansion, Drosdick Hall more than doubled the size of the engineering facilities, creating a modern hub for interdisciplinary research, hands-on learning, and innovation in fields like robotics, materials science, and chemical engineering.

Numerous Villanova faculty and staff members led the engaging sessions, making the experience interactive and inspiring. Highlights included:

• Mixing cornstarch and water to explore the fascinating properties of a non-Newtonian fluid (it acts like a solid under pressure but flows like a liquid otherwise!).
• Using robotic “jaws” to understand snake feeding mechanics and biomimicry in engineering.
• Super-cooling post-1980s pennies with liquid nitrogen, watching them shatter dramatically due to the extreme temperature change.

The demonstrations took place throughout Drosdick Hall’s advanced labs and spaces, designed for collaborative, problem-solving work. The Villanova team truly went above and beyond, creating an outstanding and memorable day that sparked curiosity and excitement about STEM careers.

After the hands-on activities, everyone enjoyed a delicious lunch in the spacious student food court, capping off a perfect visit.

Here are many photos capturing the fun, learning, and enthusiasm from the day:

A huge thank you to the Villanova University faculty, staff, and everyone who made this possible—what an incredible opportunity for our STEM club members! 🚀🔬